CINCINNATI – Bengals receiver A.J. Green returned to practice yesterday after a nearly three-week absence because of a bruised knee.

Green was allowed to participate in non-contact drills only. It’s unclear whether he could play in Cincinnati’s second preseason game Saturday night against Tennessee at Paul Brown Stadium. Green said he would like to play.

He bruised his left knee while trying to make a sideline catch during the first practice of training camp on July 25. He’s been held out of practice since then, working on getting the knee healed.

Green said the knee is fine and he’ll do a little more in practice each day leading up to the preseason game. The All-Pro receiver caught 97 passes for 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

NFL

Foles gets his turn to start for Eagles

PHILADELPHIA – Nick Foles, you’re up.

Foles will be the starting quarterback when the Philadelphia Eagles play their second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers tonight. Michael Vick started last week’s 31-22 to loss to New England and now it’s Foles’s turn to take the first snap.

The two quarterbacks have been alternating days starting out with the first team so Coach Chip Kelly said last week Foles would go first this time because Vick opened the first game.

Vick was 4-of-5 for 94 yards, including a perfect 47-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson in two series against the Patriots. Foles lost a fumble on his first series, but led the Eagles to a TD on his next one against New England backups.

NFL

Avril returns to practice for Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. – First slowed by foot problems during offseason workouts, and then a hamstring, Cliff Avril was just happy to be feeling well enough to get on the field for a short time.

Seattle’s big free agent signing along the defensive line was back on the practice field yesterday for the first time. Avril only participated in individual drills, but Coach Pete Carroll was hopeful Avril might make it through a full practice today.

Even if Avril makes it through a full practice today, it’s unlikely that he would play on Saturday when the Seahawks host Denver in their second preseason game.

Because of injuries, the Seahawks have had only one true rush end at times in the last week in undrafted free agent Benson Mayowa.

Carpenter, Miami’s kicker the past five seasons, had his contract terminated. The move saves the Dolphins considerable money, because he would have received nearly $2.7 million this year in the final season of a four-year deal.

The Dolphins signaled Carpenter’s job was jeopardy when they drafted Sturgis in the fifth round in April. Sturgis set a school record for field goals at Florida, where he went 70 for 88, including eight successful kicks from 50 yards and beyond.

The rookie made a 58-yard field goal in an exhibition game Friday and Jacksonville and hit all six of his kickoffs into the end zone.

Carpenter reached the Pro Bowl in 2009 and holds the team record with a 60-yard field goal in 2010. He went 22 for 27 last year, but he’s only 10 for 20 in his career from 50 yards and beyond.

The 49ers, in announcing the penalty yesterday jointly with the NFL, said Dobbs will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 9, a day after the reigning NFC champion Niners’ season opener at home against the Packers. He can still practice with the team, attend meetings and other activities.

Dobbs ended last season on injured reserve with a right knee problem.

He was arrested Nov. 30 – his 25th birthday – for suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.

The third-year pro had seven tackles in 12 games last year.

NFL

Rams’ Dunbar suspended four games for PED violation

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Rams starting linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Dunbar, who was second on the team with 157 tackles last season, is able to participate in all team activities prior to suspension, which begins with the season-opening game against Arizona.

He will be able to practice and play in all exhibition contests.

Dunbar will also miss games against Atlanta, Dallas and San Francisco.

The 6-foot, 235-pounder Dunbar is the second St. Louis player suspended by the league this season. Running back Isaiah Pead will miss the opening game for violation of the substance abuse policy.

Dunbar had 4.5 sacks last season.

Soccer

Altidore’s hat trick leads US to win vs. Bosnia

Jozy Altidore scored a hat trick to lead an impressive comeback for the U.S. men’s team, which scored all of its goals in the second half yesterday and beat Bosnia-Herzegovina, 4-3, in Sarajevo and extend its record winning streak to 12 games.

Eddie Johnson had the other goal for the Americans, who have the world’s longest active winning streak.

That streak appeared to be in jeopardy when the Americans fell behind 2-0 before halftime. But Altidore set up Johnson’s goal in the 55th minute, then scored his own four minutes later. He added two more in the 84th and 86th minutes, setting off raucous celebrations for the U.S.

Edin Dzeko scored his second goal in the 90th minute. But it wasn’t enough for the 13th-ranked Dragons.

Golf

Rodgers advances in U.S. Amateur

BROOKLINE, Mass. – Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers survived a playoff yesterday to advance to match play, then beat Sean Dale 3 and 2 of Jacksonville, Fla., in the first round of the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club.

Rodgers, the 21-year-old Avon, Ind., player who will represent the U.S. next month in the Walker Cup, will face England’s Greg Eason. Eason beat 2012 runner-up Michael Weaver of Fresno, Calif., 3 and 2.

Jordan Niebrugge, the Oklahoma State player from Mequon, Wis., who swept the U.S. Amateur Public Links and Western Amateur, dropped out, falling 1 up to Seth Reeves of Duluth, Ga.

Olympics

Rio Olympics coordinating chief resigns

RIO DE JANEIRO – The head of the public body coordinating planning for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro has resigned, raising concerns about the city’s ability to stage the first games in South America.

The resignation of Marcio Fortes, who headed the Olympic Public Authority, was confirmed yesterday by the organization. An APO spokesperson said Fortes had handed in his resignation to Brazil President Dilma Rousseff.

Fortes had complained that the office has lost its influence.

The APO coordinates preparations for the games between Brazil’s federal, state and local governments, but is not responsible for delivery or construction of Olympic-related projects.